Tuft-forming mechanism



April 3, 1928.

C. JOBST Tm FORMING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 7, 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet l 3 guue/wtoz Comm. JOE'EJ.

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April 3, 1928.

C. JOBST TUFT FORMING MECHANISM 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. '7. 1922 gnvwwtom Comm deem.

April 3, 1928.

' C. JOBST I TUFT FORMING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 7, 1922 6. Sheets-Sheet 4 Es. Q.

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April 3, 1928. 1,664,421

C. JOBST TUFT FORMING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 7. 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 3mm Comm. Joan.

m. %wm/WW C. JOBST TUFT FORMING MECHANISM April 3, 1928.

Filed Jan. v', 1922 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 moq/wlim CONRAD. JOBS- Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

contain sense, or romeo, e310, ASSIGNOR, BY mnsnesssrenmnnrs, TO THE TOLEDO AUTOMATIC BRUSH MACHINE COMPANY, or ronnno, onto, A CORPORATION or OHIO.

TTOIFT-FORMING MECHANISM.

Application filed January 7, i922. Serial No. 527,589.

'l hr invention. relates to briisl'i machines of that type in which the bristles for t amine; the tufts nre automatically picked from the stock and are fed through it nozzle into engagement with the brush back. The present invention relates more particularly to the l'nezins for feeding the stock, and the coopersting parts by which the size of the tufts picked, may be exactly predetermined and ii'niinteiii'ied consttint throughout the operation. To this end the invention consists in the constructionas hereinafter set forth.

Certain :tea'turesof the brush machine described in the specification and illustrated in the drawings but not claimed herein form the rs-object matter of my covpending irpplice tiions, SerialNo. 438,391, filed January 19,

I 1, entitled Brush making mechiiie; and

Serizrl No. 527,590, filed IJanuerg titled Brush machine. in the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional side elevation of the stock-feeding mechanism and tui'lepiclriii-,5); meclmnisn'r;

Figure 1 is n :t'ragmentary section of the inoclninism toractueting the follower G;

liigure 1" 2L cross section on line 11T of Figure 1;

F' ire 62 is a sectional plan view thereof; Figures 3, at and 5 are sectional elevations showing the tuft picking needles and coopcrating parts of t 1e mechanism in diilercnt positions of adjustment;

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-section on line (3+6 of Figure 1; r I Figure 7 a horizontal section on line T-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the tutt picking mechanism;

Figure l) is ii horizontul section on line 9-4) rot Figure l ipure ll) is e vertical crosssection on l ne 'lll-lti oi Figure 2;

1* H ires 11 and 12 lions-l front elevii view of portio ni o l igiu'es l and it,

In th lining of tufts tor briaisl'ies it is rery el eritiz l that these should be of uniform size and itis tllSO important in the teed- ;1' of the bristlesencl the piclringot the t-ilitts "to avoid (any injury thereto. My i nproved mechanism is so 'const ic ted that the stock will be fed uniformly to the tuft piclc ing mechanism and that run runs of any prcdetei'inined size on n be succeosi rely piclrcil without injury to the bristles. As shown A. n stock holding rcceptncle which is preterzibly arranged in an inclined position with its lower end in operative relation to the picking; mecl'ienism. This receptacle conof top and bottom hers A A and pzrr- :ide be rs A. A which ere relatively ed- 'ust:ible to receive stock of ditlerent lengths. ..l1eecljustinent of these side bars is prefer ably accomplished by mounting the some upon the transverse slnitts B and G, projecti no laterally trom a bracket arm D, forming :r pert ot the frame of the n ieeliine. The side plates ere provided with epertiired ears or lugs E slida-bly engaging the shafts l) and Cl and adjuetebly secured thereon by set-screws Thusby loosening these set-screws, the if .e plates mejy lieiulji1ste(l nearer together or further apart to aceoi'ninodete the par-- tic-uliir lengtl'i of bristles bein sicrl.

The bristles are fed downiu rd in the receptucle A by the .pr ssure of n iollowcr (iheving a. shrink (ir passing outward through t -lio using' H end being provided with a, spring I sleeved thereon within said housing irnd ii-butting); against the outer end thereof the opposite end of said spring' bearing; ircririnst said follower. The follower x lifts bifurczited projections G and GE respectively embracing the top and bottom oers A ind oi' the receptacle. A handle I at the outer end of the shank G serves to retract the follower whenever it is desired to refill the receptacle with bristles.

To provide access to the-1'ece1 )teele, e portion A of itstop well is hinged at A and normally held in yposition by it spring; h tch A t l hen. this latch is released, the member A" may be turned up permitting the ins-er tioii oi the bristles nod the filling: of the rcclepjttrcle therewith.

The picking n ecl'imii rn comprir e :1 pair oi. reciprocntiii needle tll'lti it which are iii-ranged centrally in front of the recon tacle A and which grasp the tuft and carry it iilowu erd into alignment with the nozzle. Tl'ie tuft guided in its descent between the guides I! and M, which are mounted upon the "friune (ind are reliitively adjustable as hereinafter described to increase or diminish the width of space therebetween. The needles slide in grooves L and M" in the respective guides, the needle J having the are pressed downward and rearward.

laterally extending hook J beneath the tuft, while the needle K has the picking point K and the laterally extending shoulder K for hearing on the top of the tuft. Thus the two guidesL and M and the portions J and K of the needles together surround the tuft and hold the bristles from displacement.

In the picking of the tuft the first essential is to bring the required number of bristles into engagement with the needles. It is obvious that the pressure of the follower G upon the stock in the receptacle A cannot be depended upon for delivering the required number of bristles to the picking needles. This is for the reason that the depth of the receptacle is many times the dimension of the tuft and as there is a considerable friction element between the bristles. they will not move or flow upon each other. as would be the case with a more plastic medium. 1 have therefore devised a mechanism by which an over-supply of bristles is first brought into proximity to the picking needles, after which the surplus bristles are forced back, leaving a full quantity for the tuft, the construction being as follows:

N is a member forming an inclined front for the receptacle A so as to produce a tapering or wedgeshaped space for the bristles. The member N is reciprocated longitudinally of the receptacle and in its forward movement permits the bristles under the actuation of the follower G to move bodily forward, while in the rearward movement of the member N the bristles in the wedge-shaped space This will place upon the bristles at the point of the wedge-shaped space a pressure that is fully equal to that upon the body of the bristles between the walls A. A The lower end of the member N is preferably bent to form an acute angle with the bottom A of the receptacle, as indicated at F, and this acute angular space is occupied by the bristles from which the tuft is picked. It is, however necessary to force the bristles into this space so as to completely fill the same, which is accomplished by a tooth O upon a member P that is periodically forced upward into the body of the bristles adjacent to the wedge-shaped space and is then moved forward to press the bristles into this space.

As will. be hereinafter described, the arrangement is such that subsequent to the forward movement of the member N, the tooth will be operated to engage the bristles and force them forward, while upon the return movement of the member N, the tooth 0 will resiliently yield, permitting the bristles to be forced back, leaving the pocket completely filled but without injurious pressure upon the bristles.

The size of the tufts must be varied according to the particular brush to be manufactured and the bristles used therein. Pro

vision is made for such adjustment (lirsl) by forming one of the guides, such as the guide L, adjustable in relation to the cooperating guide M and (second) by varying the width of the wedge-shaped space between the portion N of the member N and the bottom A of the receptacle. The former adjustment is obtained by slidably mounting the guide L in ways Q on the frame and securing it by a clamping screw (3.. The adjustment of the member N is preferably etl'ected by slotting the end of Hill: member at N to engage a pin R, which is eccentricaliy carried on a rotatively adjustable pin t. The pin B may be rotated by a millcd head R and then clamped from disp'lucw ment by the milled head set-screw ll.

The picking needles J and K are :u'lilelcd by mechanism of the following cmnlrm-lion: S is a guide-way for a pair of vertically reciprocating slides iii and l'w" and which respectively actuate the needles ii and l. The slide S is actuated by a bell cranl-z lcvcr T having a slotted bearing T engaging a pin T projecting outward from the slide S through a slot S in the guide. The lever T rocks on the shaft T projecting laterally from the bracket arm I). The slide S is indirectly actuated from the lever T through the medium of the slide S. but with a lost motion connection, permitting the initial indcpendent movement of the slide S. This lost-motion connection comprises a lug S on the slide S )rojcctimcinto a recess in the slide S and engaging a headed shank S on which a spring ti sleeved. The spring is of suliicicnt tension to hold the slide S against movement during the initial downward movement of the slide S until an adjustable pin 5% on the slide S contacts with the lug: t3". llolh slides will then move together to complete their downward movement and will remain together during their return or upward movement until the upper cud of the slide S contacts with an adjustable slop S". which arrests further movement. The slide S will. however, continue to move upward. this being permitted by the compivssion cf the spring S.

The needle K is rigidly connected to the slide ti, but the nccdlc rl is pivolally connected to lhc slide s by the pin d. Above the pin J the needle is provided wilh a lal orally-extending portion .l". which in the downward movement of the slide (Olluw in contact with a stationary cam Fl. thereby rocking the needle on its pivot and movingthe hooked end J laterally away from the needle K. ll is a spring interposed between the needle J and the slide S to yicldingly hold the needles together and J is a screw carried by the slide forming an adjustable stop for the laterally extending portion 1 ol' the needle. The construction is such that in mos-aim the initial 'rriorernent oil the slide 5, the neodle K only is actuated, while the needle'J remains stationary in a position for receiving the tuft. The descent of the needle K will cause the point K thereotf to be inserted 'between the bristles forming the tea andthe bristles adjacent thereto, and after such sep aration, both needles 5K and J ivill move together downward, carrying the tuft between the guides L and M. 'i hisco'ntiirues until the portion J of the needle J engages the cam J whereupon the hook'ed portiond is laterally withdrawn from the path of the tuit and remains thus withdrawn by the cam J In this manner the from the needle 'J and is not disturheddu'iiing the return movement of both needles. The tuft thus conveyed toth-e lower end of the guides L and M is then "engaged by the tuft setting mechanism as indicated at Z hut as this forms no part of the present invention, all description thereof will he omitted.

In the complete brush machine, of which the mechanism thus far described forms a part, the various unitsare eorela te'd and timed in their relative inoveinen ts. Thus the member P is preferably actuated hy and timed withthe tuft-setting mechanism, but so far as the present invention concerned, it could be operated from any other part of the driving mechanism, which is roperly timed. As shown, theuneinher P is pivoraiiy mounted on a "pin U which projects laterally from a slide U longitutlina l'ly slidable in guides U This slide is intermittently ac tuated from a second slide U, which is reciprocated by a link U connedted to a pitman-rod U engaging acrank U enthe main drive shaft of the brush mac ine. The slide 'U' carries the spaced spring spressed binnpers U and U and these alternately engage with a depending finger U on the slide'U. The arrangement is such that at one end of the reciprocating movement of the *slide U the bumper U will strike the finger *U and ac tuate it in one direction, While the opposite end of the reciprocating movement of said slide U the bumper U will strike the finger U" and actuate it in the opposite direction. The slide U has connected thereto the threaded shank V which "passes tlu'ongxh an aperture in a stop pin V and has adjust able nuts V thereon 'by iuraus of 'Wl'lhrlh the amount of inovenient imparted to the slide U can be limited. The tooth '0 yieldah ly ronnected to the men'iber P through the we d him oi' a shank *P and a sprin l lhere is also iprovided means for raising and loweringthe tooth O, eomiprisingan arrn which engages a ca m iace P" on the slide ll. Thus, where such slide is moved "to the le'l t, Figs. 1 and. 11, the cam P, by engaging the arm P willrock upward the arm P and press the tooth 0 into the bristles in advance "of the movement of the slide U by act nation of the tuit is disengaged bu'inipcr U", while in the return inoifcihont oi: the slide U thetooth 0 will 'be depressed. out otengagement with the bristles in advance of engagement of the bumper U with the finger U to actuate the slide U in the reverse directi on.

i The member N is actuated by any suitable connection, properly timed, hut, as shown, the rear end of said member is connected with a lever X, which frictionally engages a bearing Y on thefranle. The opposite end of said lever X is connected by a link X having an adjustable portion X with a pin X on the bell crank lever T. Lost motion provided by a slot X in the link K, so that said link is only intermittently actuated by the lever T near the opposite ends of the reciprocating); movement thereof, Adjustable stops and Y respectively on the member N and the link X, will determine the exact degree (if movement imparted to the niem her N. l

In operation, the bristles are first placed in the receptacle A by turning up the hinged ci'w'ver A and withdrawing the follower G through the actuation of the handle 1. After the tillinig oi the receptacle, the cover A is turned down and engaged with the latch 1min tl'ieiollower (i is released to be tinder the resilient pressure oi? the spring 1. Motion is imparted to the nieciianisih .Jroni the main shaft through theti'ranlc U, pitinain U link U and bell crank l. The latter actuates the needles J and, K, as has been before described, and also actuates the nieinber N and slides U", the sequence oi. operations "being as follows? When the needles J and K a tJproach the lower end of their inoi enient, the ineniher N is actuated by the pin X, link X and lever X so as to be moved forward and hecause of the engagement of pin it with the inclined slot N the member N is nieved slightly Upwardly is well its forwardly to enlarge the wedge-shaped space. This pew mits the bristles to feed romeo under the action of the spring pressed follower (-1. At the saline time the slide U", being' at the rearward rid (towards the right in Fig. l.) of its niov hunt, withclraws the chin l troiu the arm ll (hopping ti illl'll P and tooth out oi enter, nent witli the bristles During theuhwaid movement it the motile- J and K, the cam T on the slide ll engagirrg the arm P will re the same :1 nd the arni P andv tooth (3, Pressing the latter tr pward into ie body of bristles. When the needle J i 'cziched the limit oi? it s we ward mention and the heedle K has been raised above the melee-shaped space in the magazine, the striking; of the bumpe- U against the fin er U will actuate the slide U and thereby the arm P and. tooth 0. so that this tooth will press the bristles ior Ward. (to the left) into the \vedgenumber for the tuft from the mass.

shaped space. Simultaneously or following this movement the pin X having completed its'lost .motion in the slot X will actuate the link X, lever X and member N, moving the latter rearward (to the right), contracting the wedge-shaped space and compacting the bristles against the tooth 0. However, the latter is yieldable by reason of the spring P so that this pressure cannot be enough to injure the bristles, but will merely completely fill the space. Y Thus in the succeeding downward movement of the needle K, the point thereof will be inserted between the compacted bristles in the wedgeshaped space and will separate the required These will be carried downward and delivered to the tuft-setting mechanism (not shown).

there it is desired to enlarge or diminish the size of the tuft, the wedge-shaped space can be changed by adjustment of the cccen tric pin R and thereby raising or lowering the member N. This member, as shown in Figure 8, is bifurcated having the slot N through which the needles J and K pass, and the furcations also embrace an upward- 1y extending portion L of an adjustable guide block L forming the guide-way L. Thus by also adjusting this block I the distance between the guide-ways L and M may be varied to correspond to the size of the tuft which is picked.

By reason of the fact that the bell crank lever T is actuated from the crank ll through the medium of the pitman U and link U there is imparted thereto a substantially harmonic movement and a similar movement to the needles J and K. This is important as it permits of picking the tuft and depositing the same during the slow velocity portions of the cycle, while the transportation of the tuft is accomplished during the high velocity portion of the cycle. It is therefore possible to drive the machine at a higher, rate of speed than could be safely used if the velocity of the needles and associated parts was uniform.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a brush machine, a magazine for the bristles having a longitudinally extending wall and a movable wall inclined thereto forming a tapering end portion, a yicldably pressed follower for feeding the bristles toward the tapering end portion, and means for oscillating said inclined wall in a direction longitudinally of said magazine to effect alternate expansion and compression of the bristles whereby the feeding of the same into the tapering portion is facilitated.

2. In a brush machine, an elongated magazine for the bristles having a pair of nonparallel walls forming a progressiv ly expanding chamber, a movable wall inclined toward one of said non-parallel walls and forming therewith a progressively contracting tapering end portion, a yieldably pressed follower for feeding the bristles in the direction of expansion of said chamber and towards the tapering end portion, and means for oscillating said movable wall longitudinally of said magazine in the general direction of feeding pressure to facilitate the movement of the bristles towards the apex of said tapering end portion.

3. In a brush machine, the combination with a. pair of cooperating vertically reciprocating tuft picking needles, of an elongated magazine for the bristle stock having a bottom wall inclined with respect to said reciprocating needles, a top wall non-parallel to said bottom wall. forming an expand-- ing chamber therebetwcen, a movable end wall inclined at an acute angle to said bottom. wall and forn'iing therebetwccn a tapering chamber, the apex of which (l'Us'F'Qithe path of said picking needles, side walls adjustable to receive bristles of d ti'crcnt lengths, a follower for feeding the l'n'istlcs in the magazine toward the tapering end wall thereof, and means for oscillating said movable end wall longitudinally of said magazine to facilitate the movement of the bristles into the apex of the tapering chamher.

4-. In a brush machine, the combination with a pair of cooperating vertically reciprocating tuft picking needles, of an elongated bristle magazine having a bottom wall, an end wall inclined at an acute angle with said bottom wall forming a. tapering chamber having the apex crossing the path of said picking needles, means for feeding the bristles in said magazine towards said tapering chamber, means for oscillating said movable wall longitudinally of the bristle nnigazinc to alternately expand and compress the bristles and to facilitate the movement of the same towards the apex, means for engaging the bristles at the apex of said chamber and for pushing the same forward during the forward phase of the oscillating movement of said movable wall, said pushing means yieldably opposing the return oscillation of .aid movable all to compact the bristles in the apex of the cl amber.

5. In a brush machine, the combination with a pair of cooperating reciprocal ing in ft. picking needles, of an elongated magazine having a wall arranged transverse to said tuft picking needles, a movable cud wall inclined in acute angular relation to the first. mentioned wall fOlllllllQ a. tapering chamber with the apex thereof crossing the path of said needles, means for intermittently rcciprocating said movable end wall longitudinally of said magazine in timed relation to thc reciprocation of said necdles, means for adjusting said movable end wall to enlarge or contract the portion of the chamber crossing the path of the needles, and means for corre ll ll p id nsly di stinsseid. needles to enl rge or contract the Silent the tntt to be icked. 6. In a brush machine, the combination with a pair of cooperating reciprocating tuft picking needles, ot a bristle magazine hayi f? a, tapering outlet with the apex thereof cros (j ing the path of said needles, means for adjusting said maga ine in a direction trans verse to the reciprocation of said needles toenlarge or contract the distance that the out let extends across the path of the needles, and means operable within the apex of said outlet for exerting a localized pressure on the bristles therein to uniformly compact the same whereby the size of the tufts picked is determined by theadjnstmentof said outlet.

7. In a. brush machine, a tuft picking mechanism comprising a reciprocatory noedle, means for positively actuating the same, a swimm ng ee e, 0st m t o r e connection bet-ween said positively actuated. needle and said cooperatingneedle for positively and directly actuating the latter from the former in one direction of its movement, means for yieldingly driving said cooperat ing needle from said positively actuated needle in the reverse direction, and a. stop for arresting movement of said cooperating nee dle to permit separation of the same from said first mentioned needle for the gathering of the tutt. an

8. In a. brush machine, a tnft picking mechanism comprising apair of cooperating needl me n fer pesi i ly actua ins one of said needles with a simple harmonic motion, means on the other of said needles for directly engaging the first mentioned needle whereby the second needle is driven directly from the first needle in one direction of movement, a yieldable reslliont connection hetween said pos aetaated. needle i d the cooperating need-l tor driving thelal 'litting a V ove nent oil? said need] re verse direction, and stop for an movement oat said cooperating needle to the completionof one phase of the reciprocation c said first mentioned needle to separate s d needles for the gathering of thetuit dnring a low elocity portion of the harmonic cycle. i

9. In a brush machine, the combination with a; pair of cooperating receprocating tnift picking needles, of a magazine forming a. taporing chamber with the apex thereof crossing the path of said picking needles, means for oscillating one wall oi said tapering chamber to. alternately expand and com mess the bristles therein and to facilitate the lfeedoi? the saline towards the apex, a feeding tooth intermittently inserted into the bristles adjacent to the apexdof said chamber, and lily pressing said feeding means for yield v toothln a direction towards the apex 01; said chamber 1n opposition to the return phase ot the oscillatory movement of said wall, of the magazine, whereby the b stles from which the tuft is picked are uniformly compressed. 1Q. In a brush machine, the combination with a pair oi cooperatingreciproeating tu lt picking needles, of a bristle n agi lzine havng an end portion thereof in acute angular relation to the bottom portion forming a tapering chamber with the apex crossing the path of said needles, means for feeding the l istles in said lnaga ine towards the tapcring portion thereof, means for oscillating said end. portion to alternately expand and compress the bristles and to facilitate the feeding of the same into the apex, means for adjusting said osoillating end portion to enlarge or diminish the area t-raver wtl hy the needles, and means foryieldahly opposing the return of the ln'i les in the apex of said chamber to pl co. a uni-formcompression on the portion from which the tnt't is picked.

11'. In a brnsh machine, a tugft picking niecianisnr comprising a pair cooperatms e p etery P king ne dl a le magaz ne having. a taperlng outlet with the ape); thereof extendingacross the path of the pickingneedles, ineansutinlcd with the ncrement of the picking needles for alternate y expanding and contractin the outlet of said. n l agazine crossed by )icking needles, and niieans operable in sai outlet for yi eldably resisting the inward movement ol tnehristles during the contracting of said outlet to place nponthe bristles from which the tn tt is picked a uniform pressure.

12. in a brush machine, a tuft picking mechanism comprising a picking needle, a cooperating hooked needle, means for rccip ro tingsaid needles with a suhstantially harmonic movement between the polnts for needle at the gathering: point to porn ration then- 5" m of the pielging n 1;: fire the and means for ,rally withdrawing said hook-shaped needle a the point of irering the tail. to permit the return of s id. needles.

13. In a l)! h machine,a tuft picking mechai'lisni comprising a picking needle haw ing a clamping shoulder adjacent its end, a cooperating. hook-shaped needle constituting an opposed sl'ioulder, a pair of parallel reciprocatory slides to which said needles are respectively attached, means for positively actuating the slide of the picking needle with a subst i-tially harmonic movement, a resilient yieldahle connection between said slide and the slide for the cooperating needle, means for arresting the latter slide to permit separation of the picking needle from the hook-shaped needle for the gathering of the tuft, and adjustable means for limiting the relativemovement of said picking needle and cooperating needle to enlarge or dimlnish the space between the clamping shoulders.

14. In a brush machine, a tuft picking mechanism comprising a picking needle, a cooperating hook-shaped needle, a pair of parallelly arranged slides to which said needles are respectively attached, means for imparting to the slide of the picking needle a positive substantially harmonic movement to carry said needle from the gathering point to the point of delivery, a yieldable resilient connection between said slide and the second slide, means for arresting movement of the latter slide prior to the completion of one phase of the harmonic cycle to separate said needles for the gathering of the tuft, and means operating adjacent to the completion of the opposite phase of the harmonic cycle for laterally withdrawing said hook-shaped needle to be disengaged from the tuft during the return movement thereof.

15. In a brush machine, a tuft picking mechanism comprising a guide-way, a pair of slides reciprocating in said guide-way,

means for imparting to one of said slides a positive, and substantially harmonic movement, a yieldable resilient connection between said slide and the other slide, means for arresting movement of the latter slide prior to the completion of one phase of the harmonic movement, a picking needle rigidly attached to said first-mentioned slide, a cooperating hook-shaped needle pivotally attached to the other slide, means for yield ably holding said needles adjacent to each other during the period of gathering the tuft and transporting of the same in the opposite phase of the harmonic movement, and means for tilting said pivotal needle prior to the completion of the transporting movement to disengage the hook from the tuft for return movement.

16. In a brush machine, a tuft picking mechanism comprising a guide-way, a pair of parallel reciprocating slides therein, means for imparting to one of said slides a positive and substantially harmonic movement, a yieldable resilient connection between said slide and the other slide, a stop for arresting the latter slide before the completion of onephase of the harmonic movement, an adjustable stop for altering the lost motion permitted between said slides, a picking needle carried by the positively actuated slideand having a clamping shoulder adjacent to the picking point, a cooperating hook-shaped needle pivotally attached to the other slide, the distance between said hook and shoulder being altered by adjustment of said stop between slides, means for resiliently and yieldably holding said needles adjacent to each other during the greater part of the cycle, and a cam operating on said pivoted needle prior to the completion of the opposite phase of its harmonic movement for tilting said needle and laterally withdrawing the hook.

17. In a brush machine, a tuftpicking mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating reciprocating picking needles, a bristle magazine havinga portion extending across the path of the needles, means for enlarging the space extending across said needles in transverse directions, a yieldable follower for pressing the bristles in one direction into said enlarged space, and means for contracting said space in transverse directions against the yielding pressure of said follower to uniformly compress the bristles from which the tuft is picked.

18. In a brush machine, a loft picking mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating reciprocating picking needles, means for separating said needles at one point in their reciprocation for receiving the bristles for tuft, a bristle magazine having a portion extending across the path of said picking needles, means operating during the interval in which said needles are separated for enlarging the space in said magazine which extends across the path of the needles, and a yieldable follower for pressing the bristles into said enlarged space in one direction of enlargement, said means for enlarging said space also operating prior to the picking of the tuft for contracting said space against the yielding pressure of said follower to uniformly compact the bristles from which the tuft is picked.

19. In a brush machine, a tuft picking mechanism comprising a pair of cooperating reciprocating picking needles, means for imparting to said needles a substantially harmonic movement, means for efl'ccting a separation of the needles to receive the tuft ill) during the low velocity period of the harmonic movement, a magazine having a portion thereof extending across the path of the needles, means for enlarging said portion of the magazine in transverse directions during the period in which the needles are separated, and subsequently contracting said space in said transverse directions while the needles are still separated, and a. follower for pressing the bristles into the space in one direction of enlargement thereof and for yicldably resisting the opposite movement of said bristles during the conimction of the space, whereby uniform density is obtained in the portion of the bristles from which the tuft is picked.

20. In a brush machine. a tuft picking mechanism comprising a bristle magazine. a pair of cooperating tuft picking needles reciprocating between said magazine and a point for depositing the tuft, means for imparting to one of said needles a positive and substantially harmonic movement, a yieldable resilient connection between said needle and the cooperating needle for driving the latter from the former, a stop for arrestii'ig movement of the cooperating needle when in registration with the magazine to permit the separation of said needles for the receiving of the tuft, means for enlarging in t;i'an;-.-werse directions the space in said magazine which lies across the path of said needles, a follower operating to press'the bristles in one direction of enlargement of said space, said follower yieldably opposing the contraction of the space and thereby securing uniform density to the bristles from which the tuft is picked.

21. In a brush machii'ie, the combination with a pair of cooperating reciprocating tuft picking needles, of a guidenvay along which the tuft is transferred by said needles during the reciprocating movement thereof, a magazine for the bristles having a portion of its space extending across the path of the needles, an oscillatory member forming an end portion of said magazine and also a portion of said guide adapted upon the oscillation thereof to alternately enlarge and contract the space which is in the path of the needles, a follower for pressing the bristles in one direction, into said enlarging space and yieldably resisting the compression of said space, and means for adjusting said oscillatory member for enlarging or diminishing said guide-way and the space from which the tuft is picked to permit of altering the size of tufts.

In a brush. machine, the combination with a pair of cooperating vertically reciprocating tuft picking needles, of a magazine having an inclined bottom extending adjacent to said needles, a vertical guide at the end of said bottom, a member having a portion extending in acute angular relation to said bottom, forming a tapering space in said magazine which extends across the path of the needles, a guide-way secured to said last-mentioned member and opposed to said tirstanentioned guide, means for oscillating said member to alternately enlarge and diminish the space in the magazine which extends across the path of the needles, and means for adjusting the limits of oscillation of said oscillatory member to enlarge or diminish the space from which the tuft is picked during the interval in which the pick ing occurs.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

CONRAD JOBST. 

